SOME QUESTIONS TO HELP

YOU THINK ABOUT WHO

TO LIVE WITH NEXT YEAR

WHO?

HOW TO USE THE QUIZ Think about the pairs of statements below, then mark the sliding scales to show how you feel about them. Compare your results with your prospective housemates to find out whether they feel the same...

Jaffa Cakes = cakes Jaffa Cakes = biscuits

I really need to get all of my deposit back at the end of the year – we’re going to

have to be super-careful not to damage anything.

I don’t expect to get my deposit back - I’m not going to worry about being too careful; we can’t tiptoe round all year.

I’d rather wear a jumper than turn the heating on.

(Or two jumpers. And a hat. )

I hate being cold! I’ll want to keep the heating on most of the time - even if it means high bills, at least we’ll be nice and toasty.

I like to be around lots of people – I expect we’ll

have visitors round every day.

It’s great to have friends round once in a while, but not all the time - I need some privacy and time to study.

I’m really budget-conscious and I can’t afford to spend any more than absolutely

necessary.

I want to live somewhere great, and I’m happy to spend more if I need to – the cost doesn’t matter.

Noise really doesn’t bother me.

I find it really difficult to be around noise.

I don’t mind living 10 minutes further away from my lectures if it means we

can get a better deal.

I don’t want to have to walk! I’m prepared to pay more to live in a prime location, if I have to, so I can be nearby.

I like to go out most nights.

I like to stay at home most nights.

I don’t want a place with lots of extras—just the

basics are fine.

We should all chip in and get loads of cool stuff, like Sky and games consoles.

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These are the times I’m usually awake:

Washing up should be done

as soon as we finish eating.

I don’t really care about washing up - we should just do when we run out of plates.

The most important thing to me is having a

good time, and that won’t change next year.

I plan to focus 100% on my studies next year.

If one room in the house is much larger or smaller, we

should adjust how much rent we each pay to make it

fair for everyone.

We should all pay equal shares of the rent - there’s always a reason why someone will think their room is ‘worse’ than

It’s really nice for couples to live together - they get to spend more time with

each other, and I know their love will last forever.

It’s a dreadful idea for couples to live together - if they split up, it causes problems for them and everyone else.

I never tidy up - if everything’s on the floor it’s easy

to find things when I want them.

I put things away in their proper places as soon as I’ve finished using them.

I am comfortable entering into a tenancy where I

could be held responsible for my housemates’ rent if

they don’t pay.

I am not comfortable entering into a tenancy where I could be held responsible for my housemates’ rent if they don’t pay pay.

We should all buy our own groceries

and not use one another’s stuff.

We should share stuff like bread and milk (and cheese and cornflakes and ice-cream...) I’m going to share, anyway.

The maximum amount I can afford to spend on rent and bills next year is:

1am 2am 3am 4am 5am 6am 7am 8am 9am 10am 11am 12noon 1pm 2pm 3pm 4pm 5pm 6pm 7pm 8pm 9pm 10pm 11pm 12mid

If you’re living in halls, you may think that the reason you sometimes find it difficult to live with the people in your flat/corridor is because you didn’t choose to live with them – you were just allocated a room near them.

When I live with my friends, you think, everything will be different.

The reality is that it’s not always that easy. It can be hard to live with people in halls because it’s hard to live with people, full stop. That’s OK – you’ll get the hang of it eventually. But you can make life a lot easier for yourself by thinking carefully about who you want to live with next year – and sometimes your best friends aren’t the best people. We know that certain things can cause real problems for groups - the biggest problems, in no particular order, are:

n Money – you need to be really clear about your budget for housing and bills. If three people are looking for a bargain and the other three want a mansion with a gold-plated Jacuzzi, you’re going to run into problems.

n Cleaning – different people have different standards. Before you agree to share, talk about these honestly.

n Noise – if you and your housemates don’t agree on how much noise is too much noise, and how your home will be used throughout the day and night, it can be really stressful.

If you and your friends have very different expectations about what you’re looking for and how you’re going to live, think carefully before deciding to live together. It may be better for your friendship if you don’t share a home. Talk things through, and be honest and open, before you commit to signing a legal agreement.

(Oh, and you know the question about taking responsibility for your housemates’ rent if they don’t pay? If you sign a joint tenancy, that’s basically what you’re doing. The Guild Advice can tell you more about this. Don’t like the idea? Look for accommodation from landlords who will offer you an individual contract, like the large private accommodation providers, and some landlords.)

Remember, before you sign a contract, take a look at the Housing Contract Guide and get in touch with the Guild Advice if you have any specific questions.

Happy house-hunting!

NOW WHAT?OK, this quiz can’t really predict how you and your prospective housemates will get on. But, it can give you a good idea of the things you need to think about before deciding to share.

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